Big Ten Preseason Rankings

Ohio State Buckeyes
2018 Rank: 4
2017 Rank: 5
2017 Ended: A bunch of people complaining about how Ohio State should have made the playoffs after winning the Big Ten and then they beat USC in the Cotton Bowl.
2018 Starts With: Oregon St (115) and Urban Meyer being suspended the first three games.
Coached By: Liar Liar Pants on Fire Urban Meyer, 73-8 (7th Season, 6-0 against Michigan)
Wisconsin Badgers
2018 Rank: 5
2017 Rank: 3
2017 Ended: Taking out their frustrations of losing the Big Ten Title game on Miami in the Orange Bowl.
2018 Starts With: Western Kentucky (98)
Coached By: Paul Chryst, 34-7 (4th Season)
Penn State Nittany Lions
2018 Rank: 7
2017 Rank: 8
2017 Ended: An entertaining 35-28 win over Washington in the Fiesta Bowl.
2018 Starts With: Appalachian St (55)
Coached By: James Franklin, 36-17 (5th Season)
Michigan State Spartans
2018 Rank: 11
2017 Rank: 17
2017 Ended: Holiday Bowl drubbing of Washington State
2018 Starts With: Utah St (87)
Coached By: Mark Dantonio, 100-45 (12th season)
Michigan Wolverines
2018 Rank: 23
2017 Rank: 38
2017 Ended: Choking...choking so hard that they blew a 19-3 lead to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl, 26-19.
2018 Starts With: Notre Dame (12) and people whispering "They better beat Michigan St or Ohio State or else..."
Coached By: Jim Harbaugh, 28-11, 1-2 against Michigan St, 0-3 against Ohio State, 1-2 in Bowl Games, but I'm not upset by this whole thing. I'm not crying you're crying. (4th season).
Northwestern Wildcats
2018 Rank: 25
2017 Rank: 20
2017 Ended: Surviving a Music City Bowl comeback as Kentucky failed on a 2-point conversion to secure a 24-23 win.
2018 Starts With: Purdue (48)
Coached By: Pat Fitzgerald, 87-65 (13th Season)
Iowa Hawkeyes
2018 Rank: 27
2017 Rank: 39
2017 Ended With: A hard fought win in the Pinstripe Bowl over Boston College.
2018 Starts With: Northern Illinois (58)
Coached By: Kirk Ferentz, 143-97 (20th Season)
Purdue Boilermakers
2018 Rank: 48
2017 Rank: 56
2017 Ended: With a winning season thanks to a Foster Farms Bowl win over Arizona.
2018 Starts With: Northwestern (25)
Coached By: Jeff Brohm, 7-6 (2nd Season)
 Nebraska Cornhuskers
2018 Rank: 69
2017 Rank: 101
2017 Ended: By getting obliterated by Iowa, but then longing after the last QB to lead Nebraska to a National Championship.
2018 Starts With: Akron (94)
Coached By: Savior Scott Frost (1st Season)
Minnesota Golden Gophers
2018 Rank: 74
2017 Rank: 88
2017 Ended: Losing Paul Bunyan's Ax while failing to score in the finale and missed a bowl bid.
2018 Starts With: New Mexico St (96)
Coached By: P.J. Fleck, 5-7 (2nd Season)
Maryland Terrapins
2018 Rank: 83
2017 Rank: 99
2017 Ended: Not showing up in the 66-3 finale against Penn St.
2018 Starts With: Texas (43) and an investigation after the death of a player during camp led to players speaking of a toxic culture.
Coached By: D.J. Durkin (currently on administrative leave pending investigation), 10-15, (3rd season)
 Indiana Hoosiers
2018 Rank: 84
2017 Rank: 96
2017 Ended: On the wrong side of the Old Oaken Bucket showdown and fell short of a bowl bid after losing to Purdue. Fun fact they even lost their namesake in IPFW which will now be Purdue Fort Wayne, so look out for that next college basketball season.
2018 Starts With: FIU (70)
Coached By: Tom Allen, 5-8 (2nd Season)
 Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2018 Rank: 93
2017 Rank: 103
2017 Ended: With three straight losses including a 40-7 performance against Michigan State to end the season.
2018 Starts With: Texas St (127)
Coached By: Chris Ash, 6-18 (3rd Season)
Illinois Fighting Illini
2018 Rank: 106
2017 Rank: 118
2017 Ended: Going winless in Big Ten play (0-9) with Northwestern putting on the finishing touches with a 42-7 romp.
2018 Starts With: Kent St (125)
Coached By: Lovie Smith, 5-19 (3rd Season)